T

he World Bank, in cooperation with Bank Indonesia, the Financial Services Authority (OJK) and local administration, launched Greenback 2.0 on Wednesday, a program to help facilitate migrant workers transfer remittances to their families.

World Bank representative Christopher Juan Costain said during his speech that the program would also raise awareness among migrant workers and their families about the importance of the remittances for local development.

East Lombok was chosen to host Greenback 2.0 by the World Bank because the regency sends the biggest number of migrant workers, more than Indramayu regency in West Java. East Lombok administration official Musro Pranoto said the regency sent 25,000 workers overseas each year, mostly to Malaysia, adding that they sent Rp 800 billion per year in remittances. “That amount is higher than the annual budget allocation for civil servant salaries in the regency at Rp 700 billion [US$51.1 million],” he added.

At the moment, migrant workers are required to pay extra money if they send money to their families. Through the Greenback 2.0 program, the World Bank will facilitate the transfer of remittances with lower fees.